CostIndexUSA

Burlington, VT vs Philadelphia, PA Cost of Living

Data: BEA Regional Price Parities · Census ACS · 2024

More AffordableVT
Burlington
100.9
overall index
$2,150/mo rent
PA
Philadelphia
102.6
overall index
$1,850/mo rent

Burlington is slightly cheaper than Philadelphia — 1.7% lower overall cost of living.

To match an $80,000 salary in Burlington, you would need $81,300 in Philadelphia. Calculate your salary ↓

Category Breakdown

Index values: 100 = U.S. national average. Higher = more expensive.

🏠 Housing+9.0%
Burlington
103.8
Philadelphia
113.1
🛒 Groceries≈ Equal
Burlington
97.3
Philadelphia
96.8
🚗 Transportation+1.4%
Burlington
106.7
Philadelphia
108.2
🏥 Healthcare+1.5%
Burlington
96.5
Philadelphia
97.9
Utilities8.9%
Burlington
125.6
Philadelphia
114.4

Salary Equivalency Calculator

Enter your current salary in Burlington to see what you'd need to earn in Philadelphia to maintain the same purchasing power.

$
Equivalent salary in Philadelphia, PA
$81,300
$1,300 more needed in Philadelphia

Formula: salary × (102.6 ÷ 100.9) = salary × 1.0168. Based on BEA Regional Price Parities.

Housing Market

Burlington, VT

Median Home Price
$459,000
Median Monthly Rent
$2,150
Housing Index
103.8
Price-to-Rent Ratio
17.8×

Philadelphia, PA

Median Home Price
$374,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,850
Housing Index
113.1
Price-to-Rent Ratio
16.8×

Philadelphia has 9.0% higher housing costs compared to Burlington.

Income & Job Market

Burlington, VT

Median Household Income
$95,500
Per Capita Income
$54,400
Unemployment Rate
1.9%
Population
44,743
Top Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnologyTourismFinance

Philadelphia, PA

Median Household Income
$86,900
Per Capita Income
$49,500
Unemployment Rate
4.5%
Population
1,603,797
Top Industries
HealthcareEducationFinanceTourismManufacturing

Affordability at a Glance

Income-to-rent ratio: higher is better (more income relative to housing costs).

Burlington, VT
3.7×income-to-rent ratio

73% of income left after rent (median)

Philadelphia, PA
3.9×income-to-rent ratio

74% of income left after rent (median)

Data Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Regional Price Parities 2024; U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS); Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Zillow Research.

Cost indices use 100 as the U.S. national average. Values above 100 indicate costs above the national average. Data is updated annually.

This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for relocation or financial decisions.